A spokesman for Humberside Police said: “Police were contacted by Scarborough General Hospital, shortly after 0600 hrs yesterday morning, after a Bridlington man had been taken to the hospital by a friend from an address in Bridlington in a serious condition.

“The 23-year-old man was sadly pronounced dead at hospital and the police notified.

“The circumstances of the man's death are not clear and officers are currently undertaking enquiries to establish events leading to his death.

“There were no signs of violence and a post mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow which is hoped may provide further information.”

David Hockney's house in Bridlington, East Yorkshire (Google)

Mr Elliott, one of two local men recruited by the artist, helped him set up his equipment when he was working on his projects and for exhibitions.

Mr Hockney even painted a portrait of Mr Elliot in 2008.

Hockney is one of the best-known artists in Britain after a decades-long career as a pioneer of modern art.

His colourful paintings, often showcasing the landscape of his native Yorkshire or his adopted home in California, are beloved by millions.

A portrait of Dominic Elliott, by Hockney

Hockney was the subject of a major exhibition at the Royal Academy in London, considered one of the highlights of the 2012 cultural year.

For the project Hockney worked in a room at the top of his sister Margaret’s house in Bridlington.

He has since bought a house, adding to his others in London and Los Angeles, opposite Margaret’s on the road of the 25 trees.

He does most of his work in a huge studio in a unit on an industrial estate on the edge of town.

Recently Hockney has snubbed council plans to grant him the freedom of the town, ignoring several attempts to make contact and ascertain his interest.

Proposals to change the name of a gallery to The David Hockney Gallery have also been ditched due to a failure to raise a response from the notoriously reclusive artist.